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Miniature
Ventures
Breeders of beautiful Miniature Horses with Action! Quality Breeding ~ Quality Transport |
| Larry,
Maryann & Brianna Cerullo 5643 SW Minson Rd. Powell Butte, OR 97753 Phone: 541-447-6870 E-mail: miniv@coinet.com |
| If you are a
breeder, you want to keep
a kit full of the necessary supplies at hand so you don't have to think
about where certain items are when it comes time for your mare to
foal. We at Miniature Ventures try to keep our foaling kit
supplies separate from our horse
first aid kit so there is a
lot of duplication of supplies. At least that way,
you know you have
everything there and spares if necessary. The idea for this kit
came to us originally from our mentors, Larry and Joanne
Ross of Scott
Creek Farm
years ago at a
foaling clinic they sponsored. We have passed this idea and the
kit contents to many breeders around the world since we first learned
of it. Remember, this is based on our experience. Your foaling kit can be as simple or elaborate as you wish it to be as long as you have the following basic items. We keep ours in a Rubbermaid tub ready to grab at a moment's notice. 7% iodine or betadine with film cannister to dip foal's umbilical stump. We use a squirt bottle with our iodine mixture. Sharp scissors or knife to cut umbilical cord if necessary Cord (we use a piece of baling twine) to tie off umbilical cord if it is necessary to cut it. Bucket (clean) to mix an antiseptic solution to wash hands/arms/mare's vulva or udder Some sort of lubrication (we use NoveLube but Vaseline/KY Lube will work if necessary) to lubricate hands to go in mare to reposition foal (we have even heard of folks successfully using dishwashing liquid). Gloves - Rubber Medical. Towels Breast pump (to pump colostrom out of udder to "jumpstart foal" or feed a "slow foal". This can be a 60 CC syringe with the tip cut off and plunger inserted "backwards"). We rarely use one of these as it is easier for us to just "milk" the mare when the time comes. Syringe to feed foal (we use a child's ear syringe for this) if necessary. A regular syringe will work, a syringe with a tube connected to it would be better. Cup to capture milk from mare: We like to have a cup that is marked with liquid amounts, that way we're not guessing how much colustrum the foal is getting. 2 Child Fleet Enemas Ivermectin (we worm our mares as soon as they foal) Banamine (paste or liquid) to help mare with pain of contractions after foaling. Vitamin E/Selenium (if your area is low in the mineral selenium content. This helps foal's who may have white muscle disease--in the Pacific Northwest, this is a real problem). We give 1/4 cc to our mini foals and 1/2 cc to our pony foals. Check with your vet!) Pull straps in case there is difficulty getting foal out of mare...ours are 1/2" nylon webbing strap with "d" rings sewn on. Even baling twine will work if necessary. The foal WILL be wet and slippery so it's nice to have the help if necessary. Disinfectant Solution We use Betadine but Iodine will work as well. We mix the product in the bucket with warm water. Thermometer Stethoscope Watch Plastic Bag to put placenta in. Halter and Lead for mare if necessary Vet Wrap to wrap mare's tail prior to foaling if you wish to do this. CELL PHONE or Phone Extension that works in Barn/stall/shed White Board or notebook to record statistics like birth time/when it stands/when it nurses/amount of colostrom given and time if this is done Veterinarians' phone numbers in case of emergency. Phone number for access to Frozen Colostrum if necessary. |
